Vehicle provided with inclination sensor

ABSTRACT

To prevent the inclination sensor from soiled by flying matter such as muddy water splashes scattered by the rotating wheels of the running vehicle itself, which may result in false detection of the inclination of vehicle to road surface, a vehicle provided with an inclination sensor for detecting the inclination of vehicle to road surface is proposed, wherein the sensor is attached onto the undersurface of the vehicle at a position inside from the wheels in the direction of width of the vehicle, and a cover member having at least either of a side cover portion for covering the wheel side of the inclination sensor or a rear side portion for covering the rear side of the inclination sensor in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is provided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the invention

The present invention is related to a vehicle provided with an inclination sensor for detecting the state of inclination of vehicle, particularly provided with an inclination sensor provided with a cover member for intercepting flying matter such as a splash of muddy water to run into the inclination sensor.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recent years, in a heavy vehicle such as a truck provided with headlight of high brightness, a light axis adjusting device for adjusting the light axis automatically in accordance with the tilt of the vehicle to road surface detected by an inclination sensor is provided in order to prevent the driver of an oncoming car from being dazzled by the strong light.

One of such light axis adjusting devices is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2003-127757 (hereafter referred as patent literature 1).

According to the art disclosed in patent literature 1, two pairs of ultrasonic wave radiator and detector are located along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle with a certain distance apart from each other, each pair consisting of an ultrasonic wave radiator for radiating an ultrasonic wave toward road surface and a detector for detecting the ultrasonic wave reflected from the road surface to compose a radiator-detector couple, the radiator and detector being located along the direction of width of the vehicle with a certain distance from each other; the radiators and detectors are connected to a controller; and the inclination of the vehicle to road surface is detected (calculated) based on the time difference between the time needed from the radiation ultrasonic wave to the detection of reflected ultrasonic wave by means of a pair of radiator and detector located in the front side and the time needed from the radiation of ultrasonic wave to the detection of reflected ultrasonic wave by means of another pair of radiator and detector located in the rear side.

The controller allows the light axes of head lamps to be changed according to the inclination of the vehicle detected.

Further, according to the art disclosed in patent literature 1, said two pairs of ultrasonic wave sensors are mounted to a box-like case so that the radiating faces and detecting faces of the sensors are exposed toward road surface, and the case mounted with the sensors is attached to the central part of the cross member of the vehicle frame. By this, the space in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle required for attaching the case is decreased, and a compact inclination sensor is achieved by accommodating the sensors in the case.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As the inclination sensor of patent literature 1 is composed such that two pairs of the ultrasonic wave radiators and detectors are attached to the case and the radiating and detecting faces thereof are exposed to road surface, the radiating and detecting faces of the ultrasonic wave radiators and detectors are apt to be soiled by flying matter such as a splash of muddy water scattered by the rotating wheels of the running vehicle itself or muddy water curled up by the front running cars.

The present inventors ascertained that there are two kinds of contamination of the radiating faces of radiators and the detecting faces of detectors. One is the contamination by a splash phenomenon in which the muddy water splashed by the front wheels when the wheels run into a water pool or puddle impinges directly against the radiating faces and detecting faces to soil the faces, the other is the contamination due to a spray phenomenon in which the muddy water splashed by the tires of the front wheels and crashed into small particles by the impingement against the wheel houses or by the rotation of the front wheels spreads between the tires and wheel houses like sprayed muddy water, whereby the sprayed muddy water is conveyed by the stream produced by the rotation of the wheels and adheres to the radiating faces and detecting faces to soil the faces.

However, conventionally, as disclosed in patent literature 1, no countermeasure is devised with the inclination sensor for preventing the inclination sensor from being contaminated by the splashing and spraying phenomena as mentioned above. As flying matter is not prevented from splashing the inclination sensor, there is a problem that the radiating and detecting faces of the ultrasonic wave radiators and detectors are apt to be soiled by said flying matter and false detection of the inclination of the vehicle to road surface may happen.

Therefore, in light of the problem of the prior art, the object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle provided with an inclination sensor which is prevented from being contaminated by flying matter scattered by the rotating wheels of the running vehicle itself and occurrence of false detection of the inclination of the vehicle to road surfaced.

The present invention proposes to achieve the object mentioned above a vehicle provided with an inclination sensor for detecting an inclination of vehicle to road surface, wherein said sensor is attached onto the undersurface of the vehicle at a position inside from the wheels, and an a cover member having at least either of a side cover portion for covering the wheel side of the inclination sensor or a rear side portion for covering the rear side of the inclination sensor is provided.

According to the invention, flying matter such as muddy water splash produced by said splash phenomenon is prevented from impinging directly upon the radiating faces of radiators and detecting faces of detectors of the ultrasonic wave sensor mainly by the side cover portion covering the front wheel side of the ultrasonic wave sensor. The contamination by the spray phenomenon in which muddy water spray spreads between the front tires and wheel houses is prevented from coming around toward the radiating faces of radiators and the detecting faces of detectors of the ultrasonic wave sensor by virtue of said side cover portion and the rear side cover portion for covering the rear side of the ultrasonic wave sensor.

As to the cover member, it is permissible that either of the side cover portion or rear cover portion is provided, preferably only the side cover portion is provided.

In the invention, it is preferable that said cover member is provided with a front cover portion for covering the front side of the inclination sensor. With the configuration like this, flying matter such as a muddy splash spreading in the space between the wheels and wheel houses in a state like a sprayed muddy water can be positively prevented from coming around the front side of the ultrasonic wave sensor to the radiating faces of radiators and the detecting faces of detectors of the ultrasonic wave sensor by the front cover portion covering the front side of the ultrasonic wave sensor. Further, the splashes curled up by front running cars can be intercepted.

In the invention, it is preferable that said inclination sensor is fixed to the vehicle by a bracket to which said cover member is attached detachably. With the configuration like this, it is easy to remove the cover member only from the bracket for fixing the ultrasonic wave sensor when the cover is soiled by splashes of muddy water without removing other members, and the cover can be cleaned and again attached. When the cover is damaged, the cover can be replaced easily.

In the invention, it is preferable that said inclination sensor is an ultrasonic wave sensor comprising ultrasonic wave radiators for radiating ultrasonic wave, ultrasonic wave detectors for detecting ultrasonic wave, and a case in which said ultrasonic wave radiators and ultrasonic wave detectors are mounted; said case is formed to have conically shaped parts each broadening in diameter from each of said ultrasonic wave radiators and detectors toward road surface; and said cover member is located such that the lower end thereof do not interfere with each of the extension of the conically shaped parts. With the configuration like this, the cover member can intercept flying matter without interfering with the ultrasonic wave radiated from the ultrasonic wave sensor, so accurate detection of the inclination of the vehicle by means of the ultrasonic wave sensor is possible by preventing the contamination of the inclination sensor.

Further, it is preferable that a head lump controller is provided for controlling the light axes of the head lamps of the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the ultrasonic wave sensor, the bracket and the cover for intercepting splashes of the first embodiment.

FIG. 2(A) is an exploded view of the bracket and the cover for intercepting splashes, and FIG. 2(B) is a perspective view of another embodiment of the bracket.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the heavy truck to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the chassis of the heavy truck of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5(A) is a sectional side elevation of the ultrasonic wave sensor, and FIG. 5(B) is a perspective view of the ultrasonic wave sensor viewed from above.

FIG. 6 is a partial plan view showing the state the inclination sensor with the cover of second embodiment of the invention attached is fixed to the front part of the vehicle.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cover of second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 (A) and FIG. 8(B) are drawings for explaining the relation of position of the ultrasonic wave path and the cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be detailed with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is intended, however, that unless particularly specified, dimensions, materials, relative positions and so forth of the constituent parts in the embodiments shall be interpreted as illustrative only not as limitative of the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the ultrasonic sensor, the bracket and the cover for intercepting splashes of the first embodiment. FIG. 2(A) is an exploded view of the bracket and the cover for intercepting splashes, and FIG. 2(B) is a perspective view of another embodiment of the bracket. FIG. 3 is a side view of the heavy truck to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the chassis of the heavy truck of FIG. 3. FIG. 5(A) is a sectional side elevation of the ultrasonic wave sensor, and FIG. 5(B) is a perspective view of the of the ultrasonic wave sensor viewed from above. FIG. 6 a partial plan view showing the state the inclination sensor with the cover of second embodiment of the invention attached is fixed to the front part of the vehicle. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cover of second embodiment of the invention. FIG. 8 (A) and FIG. 8(B) are drawings for explaining the relation of position of the ultrasonic wave path and the cover.

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 showing an embodiment of the heavy truck provided with the inclination sensor according to the present invention, numeral reference 101 is a vehicle (truck), 102 is the cab of the vehicle 102, 103 is a load-carrying platform, 104 are front wheels, 105 are rear wheels, 106 are side frames, 108 are cross members. Reference numerals 107 are head lamps of which the directions of light axes are adjustable. Reference numeral 1 is an ultrasonic inclination sensor, of which the detail is explained later, for detecting the inclination of vehicle.

The inclination sensor 1 is located at an inner side from the right front wheel 104 and attached to the undersurface of the front cross member 108 (not necessarily the undersurface of the front cross member, the undersurface of the vehicle frame is permissible) by means of a bracket 2 (see FIG. 1, 2). Reference numeral 3 is a cover member consisting of a side cover 3 a and a rear cover 3 b, of which the detail is explained later. The inclination sensor 1 may be a laser sensor comprising laser beam radiators and detectors.

The composition of the inclination sensor 1 will be explained referring to FIG. 5(A) hereunder. The ultrasonic inclination sensor 1 comprises a case 1 e (see FIG. 5(A)), radiators 1 a, 1 c, and detectors 1 b, 1 d. A radiator 1 a and a detector 1 c work as a pair, and a radiator 1 b and a detector 1 d work as a pair. Two pairs of radiators and detectors are provided. A radiator and a detector of one pair are located along the lateral direction of the vehicle so that the ultrasonic wave radiated from a radiator 1 a toward the road surface 100 and reflected therefrom is detected by a detector 1 b and the ultrasonic wave radiated from a radiator 1 c toward the road surface 100 and reflected therefrom is detected by a detector 1 d. The two pairs are located along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle with a certain distance apart from each other. The 1 a, 1 c, and detector 1 b, 1 d are attached to the case 1 at the base part 1 f thereof so that each of the radiating face and detecting face of the radiators and detectors faces toward the road surface 100. The base part 1 f where the radiators 1 a, 1 c and detectors 1 b, 1 d are attached is covered by a case body 1 g. Conically shaped parts 1 h broadening in diameter toward road surface 100 are formed in the case body 1 g. As the downward broadening parts 1 h are provided, each for each of the radiators 1 a, 1 c and detectors 1 b, 1 d, four conically shaped parts 1 h broadening downward are formed in the embodiment. The bottom (upper end side, i.e. radiator or detector side) of each of the conically shaped parts 1 h broadening downward contacts the peripheral part of each of the radiators 1 a, 1 c and detectors 1 b, 1 d. With this configuration, the ultrasonic wave emanates along the surface of the conically shaped parts 1 h broadening downward. The broadening angle of the conically shaped part 1 h is 60 =120° in the embodiment as shown in FIG. 8, and the diffusion of the ultrasonic wave emanating from the radiator 1 a, 1 c is defined in the range of cone angle α. The ultrasonic wave radiated from each of the radiators 1 a, 1 c and reflected from road surface 100 is detected by each of the detectors 1 b, 1 d respectively. Signals from the radiators and detectors are inputted to a controller not shown in the drawings. The controller detects the inclination of the vehicle to road surface 100 based on the inputted signals and allows the light axes of the head lamps 107 to be adjusted according to the result of the detection. Therefore, the light axes of the head lamps 107 can be adjusted most suitably in accordance with the state of inclination of the vehicle.

FIG. 5(B) is a representation showing the location of the radiators 1 a, 1 c and detectors 1 b, 1 d, and also showing the state ultrasonic waves radiated and reflected. The ultrasonic wave sensor 1 is provided with a pair of radiator 1 a and detector 1 b in the front side and a pair of radiator 1 c and detector 1 d in the rear side along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle so that the inclination of the vehicle to the road surface is calculated based on the time difference between the time needed from the radiation of ultrasonic wave to the detection of reflected ultrasonic wave by means of a pair of radiator and detector located in the front side and the time needed from the radiation of ultrasonic wave to the detection of reflected ultrasonic wave by means of a pair of radiator and detector located in the rear side.

The detail of the ultrasonic sensor, bracket and cover for preventing splash of the first embodiment of the invention will be explained referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. In the drawings, reference numeral 2 is a bracket made of thin steel plate formed into a box-like shape. The bracket 2 is fixed to the undersurface of the front cross member 108 by the upper face of the bracket by means of a plurality of bolts 7. It may be fixed to a proper position of the vehicle frame not limited to the front cross member. To the undersurface of the flange part 2 a, 2 b of the bracket 2 is fixed to the ultrasonic wave sensor 1 by the base part 1 f formed at the upper part of the case 1 e by means of a plurality of bolts 4. The bracket 2 may be divided into an upper bracket 21 and a lower bracket 20 as shown in FIG. 2(B).

Reference numeral 3 is a cover made of rubber plate (elastomer, resin, or thin steel plate is permissible) having a side cover portion 3 a for covering the front wheel side of the ultrasonic wave sensor 1 and a rear cover portion 3 b continuing to the side cover portion 3 a to cover the rear side of the ultrasonic wave sensor 1. The cover 3 is attached to the bracket 2 detachably such that the side cover portion 3 a is attached to the cover attaching part 2 j of the bracket 2 by means of a plurality of bolts 5 (three bolt in this example) and the rear cover portion 3 b is attached to the cover attaching part 2 g of the bracket 2 by means of a bolt 6 or a plurality of bolts (one bolt in this example). By attaching the cover 3 detachably to the lower part of the bracket 2 for fixing the ultrasonic wave sensor 1 to the vehicle frame, it is easy to remove only the cover 3 from the bracket for fixing the ultrasonic wave sensor 1 when the cover is soiled by splashes of muddy water without removing other members, and the cover can be cleaned and again attached. When the cover is damaged, the cover can be replaced easily.

The present inventors ascertained that there are two kind of contamination of the radiating faces of the radiators 1 a, 1 c and the detecting faces of the detectors 1 b, 1 d. One is the contamination by a splash phenomenon in which the muddy water splashed by the front wheels 104 when the wheels run into a water pool or puddle impinges directly against the radiating faces and detecting faces to soil the faces as shown by an arrow A in FIG. 3, the other is the contamination by a spray phenomenon in which the muddy water splashed by the tires of the front wheels 104 and crashed into small particles by the impingement against the wheel houses or by the rotation of the front wheels 104 spreads between the tires and wheel houses like sprayed muddy water, whereby this muddy water spray is conveyed by the stream produced by the rotation of the wheels and adheres to the radiating faces and detecting faces to soil the faces as shown by an arrow B in FIG. 3.

In the first embodiment of the invention, as the cover 3 having a side cover portion 3 a for covering the front wheel side of the ultrasonic wave sensor 1 and a rear cover portion 3 b continuing to the side cover portion 3 a to cover the rear side of the ultrasonic wave sensor 1, flying matter such as muddy water splash produced by said splash phenomenon is prevented from impinging directly upon the radiating faces of radiators and the detecting faces of detectors of the ultrasonic wave sensor 1 mainly by the side cover portion 3 a covering the front wheel side of the ultrasonic wave sensor 1. The contamination due to the spray phenomenon in which muddy water spray spreads between the front tires and wheel house is prevented from coming around toward the radiating faces of radiators and the detecting faces of detectors of the ultrasonic wave sensor 1 by virtue of said side cover portion 3 a and the rear side cover portion 3 b for covering the rear side of the ultrasonic wave sensor 1.

By virtue of the interception of flying matter such as muddy water splashes by the cover 3, the radiating faces of radiators and the detecting faces of detectors of the ultrasonic wave sensor 1 are prevented from being soiled by the flying matter, the occurrence of false detection of the inclination of vehicle caused due contamination of the radiating faces of the radiators and the detecting faces of the detectors can be prevented, and proper adjustment of the light axes of head lamps is always possible. As to the cover 3, it is permissible that either of the side cover portion 3 a or rear cover portion 3 b is provided, preferably only side cover portion 3 a is provided.

In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, a front cover portion 3 c for covering the front side of the ultrasonic wave sensor 1 is provided to said cover 3 in addition to the side cover portion 3 a for covering the front wheel side of the ultrasonic wave sensor 1 and the rear cover portion 3 b for covering the rear side of the ultrasonic wave sensor 1, and the side cover portion 3 a, rear cover portion 3 b, and front cover portion 3 c are continued to form a general shape of a letter U toppled sideways. By the second embodiment, flying matter such as a muddy splash spreading in the space between the front wheels and wheel houses in a state like a sprayed muddy water can be positively prevented from coming around the front side of the ultrasonic wave sensor 1 to the radiating faces of radiators and the detecting faces of detectors of the ultrasonic wave sensor 1 by the front cover portion 3 c covering the front side of the ultrasonic wave sensor 1.

Further, the splashes curled up by front running cars can be intercepted.

In the first and second embodiments, the cover 3 attached to the bracket 2 is formed, as shown in FIG. 8(A) which is a longitudinal sectional view, such that the cover 3 does not intercept the path of the ultrasonic waves SSW radiated from the radiator 1 a, 1 c and the ultrasonic wave SSW detected by the detector 1 b, 1 d which are defined by the downwardly broadening conically shaped parts 1 h of the case body 1 g (in the embodiments, broadening angle α=120°). The bracket 2 b is formed such that the flange part 2 b thereof is positioned offsetting rearward in the vehicle so that the lower end 3 d of the rear cover portion 3 b of the cover 3 is positioned upper than the path of the ultrasonic wave indicated by chain double dashed line SSW. The height of the rear cover portion 3 b is adjusted similarly. In the second embodiment, similarly the flange 2 b′ of the bracket 2 is positioned offsetting forward in the vehicle so that the lower end 3 d of the front cover portion 3 c of the cover 3 is positioned upper than the path of the ultrasonic wave indicated by chain double dashed line SSW. The height of the front cover portion 3 c is adjusted similarly.

As to the side portion 3 a of the cover 3 attached to the bracket 2, as shown in FIG. 8(B) which is a transverse cross sectional view, such that the cover 3 does not intercept the path of the ultrasonic waves SSW which are defined by the downwardly broadening conically shaped parts 1 h of the case body 1 g and broadening angle α=120° similarly as mentioned above referring to FIG. 8(A). The bracket 2 is formed such that the flange part 2 k and the corner thereof 2 h are positioned offsetting sideward (toward the wheel) in the vehicle so that the lower end 3 d of the side cover portion 3 a of the cover 3 is positioned upper than the path of the ultrasonic wave indicated by chain double dashed line SSW. The height of the side cover portion 3 a is adjusted similarly. This is the same also in the case of the second embodiment.

By the configuration like this, the ultrasonic wave SSW radiated from the ultrasonic wave sensor 1 does not interfere with the cover 3 or bracket 2, so accurate detection of the inclination of the vehicle by means of the ultrasonic wave sensor 1 is possible by preventing the contamination of the inclination sensor. Further, flying matter is intercepted by the cover 3, and the ultrasonic wave sensor 1 can be kept clean.

According to the present invention, as flying matter such as muddy water splashes scattered by the rotating wheels of the running vehicle itself is prevented from advancing toward the ultrasonic wave sensor, contamination caused by impingement of the flying matter against the radiating faces of ultrasonic wave radiators and the detecting faces of ultrasonic wave detectors are prevented, occurrence of false detection of the inclination of the vehicle due to such contamination can be evaded, and appropriate adjustment of the light axes of head lamps is made possible. By adjusting the light axes of head lamps based on the output of the inclination sensor, accurate control of the axes of head lamps is possible. 

1. A vehicle provided with an inclination sensor for detecting an inclination of vehicle to road surface, wherein said sensor is attached onto undersurface of the vehicle at a position inside from wheels, and a cover member having at least either of a side cover portion for covering the wheel side of the inclination sensor or a rear side portion for covering the rear side of the inclination sensor is provided.
 2. The vehicle provided with an inclination sensor according to claim 1, wherein said cover member is provided with a front cover portion for covering the front side of the inclination sensor.
 3. The vehicle provided with an inclination sensor according to claim 1, wherein said inclination sensor is fixed the vehicle by a bracket to which said cover member is attached detachably.
 4. The vehicle provided with an inclination sensor according to claim 3, wherein said inclination sensor is an ultrasonic wave sensor comprising ultrasonic wave radiators for radiating ultrasonic wave, ultrasonic wave detectors for detecting ultrasonic wave, and a case in which said ultrasonic wave radiators and ultrasonic wave detectors are mounted; said case is formed to have conically shaped parts each broadening in diameter from each of said ultrasonic wave radiators and detectors toward road surface; and said cover member is located such that the lower end thereof do not interfere with each of the extension of the conically shaped parts.
 5. The vehicle provided with an inclination sensor according to claim 1, wherein a head lump controller is provided for controlling the light axes of the head lamps of the vehicle.
 6. The vehicle provided with an inclination sensor according to claim 1, wherein said inclination sensor is a laser sensor.
 7. The vehicle provided with an inclination sensor according to claim 4, wherein two pairs of ultrasonic wave radiators and ultrasonic wave detectors are attached to said case, the pair consisting of an ultrasonic wave radiator and an ultrasonic wave detector.
 8. The vehicle provided with an inclination sensor according to claim 4, wherein said downward broadening part is formed to have a broadening angle of 120°.
 9. The vehicle provided with an inclination sensor according to claim 2, wherein said inclination sensor is fixed the vehicle by a bracket to which said cover member is attached detachably.
 10. The vehicle provided with an inclination sensor according to claim 4, wherein a head lump controller is provided for controlling the light axes of the head lamps of the vehicle. 